My 1964 Breitling Navitimer, got it for nothing 15 years ago, as it wasn't working, spent a few hundred quid getting it repaired and hasn't missed a beat since. Made me feel old a few months back though, a girl a bit younger than me who I was going out with asked why I fiddled with my watch every morning, she just couldn't get her head round the fact that watches didn't always have batteries .

My 1964 Breitling Navitimer, got it for nothing 15 years ago, as it wasn't working, spent a few hundred quid getting it repaired and hasn't missed a beat since. Made me feel old a few months back though, a girl a bit younger than me who I was going out with asked why I fiddled with my watch every morning, she just couldn't get her head round the fact that watches didn't always have batteries .

I found this Citizen Eco Drive Radio Controlled in a drawer earlier this year and have no idea what to make of it. Citizen does not list its movement caliber number (H417) on the Citizen Website and the only info I can find on H417 is that it appears produced for the Japanese market called the "Galileo Limited."

I've had one for a few months now and for the most part I like it. Main thing is I wish the hands were just a tiny bit more luminous and they can also cover a bit of the day/time window which you wouldn't think was that big of a deal which it is not except when you want to know the date and it is 13 minutes past the hour. The only other thing is I will get a replacement strap for it eventually as the one that comes with it is a tiny bit too thick for my liking, plus I like the one piece straps that fit under the spring bars so when one of them breaks you do not lose your watch. But those are small issues, all in all I like the watch especially the fact I never have to worry about a battery for it.

I found this Citizen Eco Drive Radio Controlled in a drawer earlier this year and have no idea what to make of it. Citizen does not list its movement caliber number (H417) on the Citizen Website and the only info I can find on H417 is that it appears produced for the Japanese market called the "Galileo Limited."

I've had one for a few months now and for the most part I like it. Main thing is I wish the hands were just a tiny bit more luminous and they can also cover a bit of the day/time window which you wouldn't think was that big of a deal which it is not except when you want to know the date and it is 13 minutes past the hour. The only other thing is I will get a replacement strap for it eventually as the one that comes with it is a tiny bit too thick for my liking, plus I like the one piece straps that fit under the spring bars so when one of them breaks you do not lose your watch. But those are small issues, all in all I like the watch especially the fact I never have to worry about a battery for it.

buddy of mine approached me for advice about buying a dress watch. Something that wouldn't look gauche during an interview with a large conservative law firm, for instance. Also something a little more sophisticated than an off-the-rack gucci dress watch from Macy's. Something modest, yet evocative of good taste. Suggesting an appreciation for craftsmanship and a keen eye for detail. A watch that conveys, "I'll make partner in 8 years," not "look at this stainless steel frisbee on my wrist, bitch. I'm already a partner."

Maybe I'm going too far. Anyway.

After talking him through the differences between mechanical and quartz movements, I was surprised when he found this:

2824-2 movement with gold plated rotor in a display back and rather elegent looking, if I might say. All for about $400? That's a pretty good deal -- haven't seen too many 2824-2 movements for this cheap. I think he chose well for a n00b.